Author: aLfie vera mella

Journalist - aLfie vera mella

Born in 1971 in Metro Manila, Philippines, aLfie vera mella immigrated to Canada in 2003. He has since then been living in Winnipeg, Manitoba, working fulltime at a health care institution in the city while also serving as the associate contributing editor of a local community newspaper, tackling Literature, Languages, Cultures, Lifestyles, Music, and Genres. Prior to coming to Canada, he was a registered nurse in the Philippines and worked as an editor/writer of academic textbooks and magazines, handling Science & Technology and English Grammar & Literature.
He was also the frontman and chief songwriter of an Alternative Rock/New Wave band, Half Life Half Death, releasing an album and a handful of singles. In Canada, he formed another band, haLf man haLf eLf; they are currently working on their first album. In his spare time, he enjoys reading books; listening to music; taking care of his eight-year-old son, Evawwen; participating at various community events; and exploring the diverse cultural beauty of Canada whenever schedule permits him. He has been a music journalist since the mid-’90s for various print magazines and, eventually, websites. He started writing album reviews for CrypticRock in 2015. In 2016, he published Part One (Literature & Languages) of his essay series, Can You Hear the Sound of a Falling Leaf? His next planned literary endeavor is to publish the remaining parts of the anthology and his works on Poetry, Fantasy Fiction, and Mythology.

What is great and interesting about supergroups—or in the case of Downes Braide Association, superduos—is that the magnetic quality of their music is very powerful; every member brings in his own legion of fans and punters. Even before the spectators get to hear whatever project...

If this was done at least a decade ago, then the idea of orchestrating Synthpop or New Wave songs might have still been unheard of or might have sounded impossible in the get-go.
However, the concept of giving these kind of songs a Classical treatment, with...

The Scottish Indie Pop band Belle and Sebastian are back on Friday, December 8, 2017 with part 1 of a trilogy of EPs, collectively titled How to Solve Our Human Problems. Released through Matador Records, this immediately follows the heels of its predecessor, 2015’s Girls...

Formed in 2013, in San Diego, California, United States, by Rafael Reyes and Dave Parley, the duo Prayers first shot to popularity in 2014 with their single “From Dog to God,” which was among the tracks that comprised their debut album released that year, SD...

Almost immediately after the release of their first album, the duo Neil Tennant (lead vocals, keyboards, occasional guitar) and Chris Lowe (keyboards, vocals)—better known as Pet Shop Boys—catapulted into the consciousness of New Wave/Pop-loving music enthusiasts with the strength of the singles “West End Girls,” “Opportunities...

Out of the depressing and claustrophobic reclusion of 1989’s Disintegration, The Cure resurfaced in the ’90s from its self-inflicted misery with a more flicker-of-light, hopeful predisposition of the follow-up, Wish. After all, the album contained the celebratory track “Friday, I’m in Love,” which ensured and...

What self-respecting Rock or even Pop music enthusiast would claim that she does not know U2—one of the most ubiquitous bands in the world? Anyone who claims that she has not heard of U2 is either feigning ignorance or simply a non-music-loving person. After all,...

As has usually been the norm, there have always been bands from every era, movement, or genre that—for whatever reason—failed to catapult to massive popularity and to reach the pinnacles of their potentials. Unfortunate as this is, it is the reality of the music business—not...

When the focus of a discussion is early-’90s Alternative Rock – the genre that dominated the mainstream Rock scene in that decade – names that easily pop up are the likes of Nirvana (“Smells like Teen Spirit”), Pearl Jam (“Jeremy”), Radiohead (“Creep”), and The Smashing Pumpkins...

Since quitting Oasis in 2009, resulting in the inevitable breakup of one of the best bands in the world, its primary Songwriter Noel Gallagher has been working hard as usual with his new moniker, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds.
Augmented by Mike Rowe (keyboards), Russell Pritchard...

Get ready to walk into the fire and get brilliantly burned with Asking Alexandria’s self-titled, fifth studio release, which arrives Friday, December 15 thanks to Sumerian Records. Reunited with Vocalist Danny Worsnop, these Brits are poised to reclaim their throne...

Having premiered on Sunday, December 3rd, AMC's The Walking Dead's episode Time For After challenged Eugene, forcing him to face where he stands on the war between Rick and Negan. While he deals with the politics within the Sanctuary, Rick...

Don’t call it a comeback, they’ve been here for years! Seventeen years strong, Story Of The Year return on Friday, December 8, 2017, with Wolves, their self-released, well, can we actually call it a comeback, please? Formed in St. Louis,...

Until 2016, there were no plans for The Punisher to have his own TV series in the Marvelverse, but when the performance of Jon Bernthal (The Walking Dead series, The Wolf of Wall Street 2013) as a guest in Daredevil season...

Imagine an array of brass, strings, percussion, and woodwind instruments intermingling while staring out into a forest blanketed in snow or across a meadow of trees stroked in the reds and oranges of autumn. Have these tranquil images focused in...

With their latest studio album 1755 recently spawned on the 3rd of November in 2017, the Portuguese Gothic Metal Masters known as Moonspell turn heads once again. Unleashed upon the world, the ever creative band this time focus on a hometown theme based on...

With the world in its usual daily upheaval of putrid chaos, many bands continue to channel the craziness, directing it towards meaningful music. That mind, Morbid Angel are back with a well-structured album full of toxic energy re-vamped into the most appealing serving. Their first...

Never has a student had it so hot for teacher in all the worst, non-sexual ways possible! Step into one truly disturbing classroom environment with Dismissed, the latest release from The Orchard, which arrives to EST/VOD on Tuesday, November 21, 2017. ...

Singer-Songwriter Geoff Tate amassed a highly-regarded reputation for himself as the frontman for the Seattle, Washington based multi-platinum-selling Progressive Hard Rock/Metal outfit Queensrÿche. Right from the start, Queensrÿche climbed the ranks of Metal with their 1983 self-titled EP, and soon Tate was one...

It is rare for debut albums to pack a serious punch, but considering Roadcase Royale’s stellar lineup, it is no surprise that the band’s first record is packed with catchy, soulful Rock tracks. Appropriately titled First Things First, Roadcase Royale...